New Music Lockdown 11: Make Music Day, Greenpeace Festival, Tiny Changes, Kasabian and more

The lockdown may be loosening but we’re no nearer to gigs and festivals occurring so, for the foreseeable, online is where it’s at. Here, then, is the latest selection of musical happenings that you can wrap your eyes and ears around during the coming week. Dive in!

Make Music Day

Originating with France’s Fête de la Musique back in 1982, the idea of Make Music Day is to put as much music in as many public spaces as possible. It has blossomed over the decades, catching on in the UK where, last year, almost 30,000 performed to around 140,000 people. In 2020, of course, the event takes place under lockdown and this Sunday (21^st June) the Make Music Day website acts as hub to access multiple different events, ranging from samba in Bristol to a London Transport Choir workshop to an “open electronic music jam”, and much, much more. There are some names involved – Welsh soprano Elin Manahan Thomas and folkie Sam Sweeney – but really this is as much about participation by all and sundry, with events such as a version of “Auld Lang Syne” which anyone can join in, or a competition to find the best cover of Morecambe & Wise classic “Give Me Sunshine”. And there’s still time to list your own event and be part of it…

Greenpeace Action All Areas

The team behind the Greenpeace Field at Glastonbury have put together a virtual festival that will take place this Thursday, Friday and Saturday (18^th-20^th June). It not only presents a worldwide selection of performers, but also, naturally, includes info about defending the environment, as well as plant-based cooking shows and recipes. There will be access to behind the scenes chats with artists, Power Ballad Yoga and DJ sets that run the gamut from tot-ravin’ outfit Big Fish Little Fish to the summer-funkin’ likes of Crazy P and Smokin’ Jo. Performers range from global favourites Rodrigo y Gabriela and Baaba Maal to folk legend Peggy Seeger, from pop stars such as Bastille, Melanic C and Kelis to hot festival-friendly sorts Melt Yourself Down, Denai Moore and Beardyman. Oh, and, as ever, Billy Bragg. Prospective attendees need to register here.

Tiny Gigs

Tiny Changes, the charity set up to support mental health in children and young people following the death of Scott Hutchison of Frightened Rabbit, has always had music at the heart of its mission. Its "pay what you can" online festival, streaming on Saturday and Sunday (20^th-21^st June), seeks to raise money for the charity's vital mission but also, in the words of Tiny Changes trustee Grant Hutchison, to bring music fans together "at a time when so many of us might be feeling disconnected and isolated from the world". Performing from their own homes will be Tim Burgess, The Staves and Frank Turner, along with emerging Scottish talent including Broken Chanter, Cloth and Heir of the Cursed. (Written by Lisa-Marie Ferla)

#SaveOurScottishVenues

The Music Venues Trust has been campaigning and fundraising to help protect the UK's grassroots music venues from the threat of closure since lockdown began. Proceeds from this ticketed event, hosted by broadcaster Vic Galloway, will go to the 60 Scottish venues in the trust's network, from Inverness to Galashiels. Among those performing across three virtual 'stages' and sharing memories from their favourite venues are KT Tunstall, Hue & Cry, Wet Wet Wet, Honeyblood and Be Charlotte, while Fran Healy of Travis will kick off proceedings on Thursday night with a special acoustic performance streaming on the Music Venue Trust's Facebook page. Tune in live from 8pm on Thursday 18^th and Friday 19th, or catch up over the weekend. (Written by Lisa-Marie Ferla)

City Winery Father’s Day Special

New York’s wine-centric restaurant-venue City Winery has developed a reputation, during its 12 year existence, for supporting big gigs by local musicians alongside low key gigs by big artists. For Father’s Day on Sunday (21^st June), they join forces with Colin Hay, frontman of Eighties Aussie pop-rockers Men At Work, for a livestream special which starts at 10.00 PM UK-time (5.00 PM in New York). In aid of America’s National Independent Venue Association, tickets are $12, available here. Alongside Hay’s fellow Australians, pop star Delta Goodrem and Aboriginal guitar king Chris Tamwoy, there will be appearances from Jefferson Airplane/Hot Tuna’s Jorma Kaukonen, country-soul singer Joan Osborne, veteran Canadian activist Bruce Cockburn, blues modernists Fantastico Negrito and Keb’ Mo’, folkie Dar Williams, Billy Bragg again (he gets everywhere!), and many more.

An Evening With Tom Meighan

In an odd recent development – and a less savoury indication of where things might go if lockdown continued indefinitely – a fan event is being offered with Kasabian lead singer Tom Meighan. The band were due to play an epic homecoming gig in Leicester’s Victoria Park on Saturday 20^th but now, with tickets at $12 a pop, the singer will be chatting to DJ, radio presenter and Inspiral Carpets main man Clint Boon for an hour at 9.00 PM, followed by – at $45 a go! – an “exclusive 1-on-1 video meet & greet with Tom” and a “snapshot photo with Tom”. While Kasabian are a better band than the hip snobs say, theartsdesk is not feeling this one.

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